Rail joint chisel



July 26, 1932.

C. H. ZENTMYER RAIL JOINT CHISEL Filed May 9, 1929 M. H W

WITNESSES ATTORNE Y.

Patented July 26, 1932 CYRIL H. ZENTMYER, OF CLIFTON F ORGE, VIRGINIA RAIL JOINT CHISEL Application filed May 9, 1929. Serial No. 361,786.

invention relates to a. device suitable for use in dressing the ends of railroad rails while the latter are connected in their normal position in the track and relates particularly Q to a device for removing the bur of metal formed at the ends of railroad rails by the tendency which the rolling pressure of the train Wheels has to force the surface metal at the ends of the rails into the space between 10, adjacent rails.

The space between adjacent rails varies in accordance with the temperature of the locality in which they are used. When the rails expand, the bur formed at the adjacent ends move together or overlap so as to pro vide a raised portion over which the wheels of a train must pass. The wheels passing over the raised bur produce a pounding action on the rail ends which not only tends to injure the tread of the wheels but also compresses the surface metal at the rail joints and rounds olf the ends of the rails, thereby increasing the effective width of the gap between adjacent rails. The said pounding action of the Wheels and the relative vertical movements of the rail ends (produced by the passing traffie), while the burs are drawn together or overlapped, tends to break off flakes of the running surface of the rails at the joint.

The specific object of my invention is to provide an improved tool which may be driven into the space between adjacent rails and thereby sever the overhanging burs, the tool being provided with portions for hearing against the flat vertical end faces of the rails so as to maintain the tool in a position to permit the cutting action to progress along lines coinciding with the planes of the end surfaces of the rails.

I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail joint chisel made in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a manner in which the rail joint chisel may be used to dress the ends of railroad rails without disconnecting the rails.

The form of my invention shown in the drawing contemplates the use of manual power for driving the tool through the space betweenthe rails. It should be understood, however, that I do not wish to confine myself to the use of manual power in operating my 7 device, because itis plainly evident that'this invention is independent of the type of power used. Moreover, the exact shape of the tool herein shown is merely one of many possible modifications coming within the scope of my invention. 7 7

My improved rail joint chisel consists of a cutting body 1, a clearance portion 2, and a handle 3. The flat side faces 4 of the cutting body are, preferably, parallel to each other and; intersect an end face 5 at right angles thereto to form spaced cutting edges 6 and 7. The thickness of the body 1 corresponds substantially to the width of the space 8 between the adjacent ends of the railroad rails 9 and 10. Consequently, the parallel side faces 4 serve as guiding surfaces which engage the end faces of the rails and thereby support the cutting tool in a position perpendicular to thelength of the rails. The portion 2 of the tool is slightly thinner than the cutting body 1 so as to provide clearance spaces at opposite sides of the tool when the tool is being driven between the end faces of the rails and thereby minimize the binding action of the tool during the cutting operation. The clearance providedby reason of the thin portion 2 of the tool, also facilitates removal of the'tool from between the rails after the cutting or dressing operation has been completed. The handle 3 of the tool is somewhat thicker than the por-' tion 2 and may be of any suitable length.

In practice, a track workman is supplied with a series-of'my improved rail oint chis els having cutting bodies of various thicknesses so that'he may select, for use on a particular rail joint, a chisel having a cutting body of a thickness which corresponds substantially to the width of the space between the rails at that joint. After a tool 0 of proper thickness has been selected, it is driven between the rails by striking the outer end of the handle with a sledge or by appli-,' cation of other force to cause the tool to pass through the space between the-ends of the connected rails, thereby dressing the ends of both rails simultaneously without any substantial binding of the tool between the rails and without requiring disconnection of the rails or in any way disturbing their alignment. In the event that it is necessary to remove the tool quickly from between the rails, for example when it is necessary to permita train to pass, the tool can be readily re moved by striking the tool with a blow directed transversely of the rail.

I am aware of the devices now in use, in order to accomplish similar results. These consist of hand saws which are slow and costly to operate and involve the work of two men. Another method consists in operating an emery wheel by a suitable driving motor. This cumbersome device requires the labor of four men and a flag man to insure train protection. In view of this state of the prior art, it is evident that my invention accomplishes, in a unique manner, the objects hereinbefore specified.

From the above description, it is apparent that the utility of my improved rail joint chisel is not confined to removing burs formed atrail joints by the pounding action of the train wheels, but that it may be used in any situation where it is desired to dress the ends of rails while they are connected.

I claim 1. A tool for removing burs from between adjacent railroad rails comprising a cutting body having fiat parallel faces intersecting an end face at right angles thereto to form cutting edges and adapted to be driven between the end faces of adjacent railroad rails, the flat parallel faces of said body being adapted by contact with the end faces of said rails to maintain the body in a position substantially parallel to said rail ends.

2. A tool for removing burs formed between adjacent railroad rails comprising a cutting body having side faces intersecting an end face to form cutting edges and adapted to be driven between the end faces of connected railroad rails, the side faces of said body being formed with guiding surfaces adapted by contact with the end faces of said rails to maintain the tool in a position substantially parallel to said rail ends.

3. A tool for removing burs from between adjacent railroad rails comprising a cutting portion having fiat parallel faces intersecting an end face at right angles to form cutting edges and of a thickness substantially equal to the width of the space between adjacent railroad rails and a portion of less thickness adjacent to the cutting portion adapted to provide clearance between the tool and the adjacent faces of said rails when the cutting portion of the tool has been forced through the space between the rails, the flat faces of said cutting portions being adapted by conadjacent end faces of the rail.

C. H. ZENTMYER. 

